This Indie Game About Futuristic Parkour Knows Exactly What It Wants

Kickstarter game Hover: Revolt of Gamers knows what it wants—to recreate the free-running joys of Mirror’s Edge or Titanfall combined with the electric setting and backstory of titles like Jet Set Radio.

The indie game has only been in development for about half a year, but it’s looking shockingly impressive in its Kickstarter pitch and graphics demo video above. Players are able to free-run around the entire open, futuristic alien city they’ve been plopped into. French developer Midgar Studios say that the cartoonish graphics are just the cover for a deep free-running combo system.

As part of the missions to complete the game, players will need to combine massive air jumps, grinding and other tricks in order to either impress or beat the populace and unlock more characters such as Bluebbit or the android Kit. The combos aren’t just for show either, as these and missions will help level up characters and give them skills to upgrade.

Winning the populace, which is living under a dictatorship, and getting them to rise up is key in Hover. There’s a new Mayor in town and he’s not taken kindly to leisure activities, outlawing items like video games on pain of forced labor, and it’s up to you and your slowly-growing rebel army of alien gamers to topple the fiend.

Some story missions the developers provide examples of include infiltrating and liberating control centres, wresting control of videogame machines back for the people. Just beware of the security drones coming after your back.

You’ll also be able to play Hover in either first or third-person modes—with Oculus Rift support—and with either a controller or mouse-and-keyboard setup. Interestingly, it will also allow for you to swap over to multiplayer at any time. Players will also be able to create real-time multiplayer events, or hop into a friends’ game to play co-operatively or hassle them.

Oh, and Jet Set Radio’s original music composer Hideki Naganuma is also on board as a special guest. He’ll even do a soundtrack, should stretch goals be reached.

If the game gets funded, it will be available on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. A stretch goal will unlock a different version of the game for the Wii U, that makes use of the Wii U gamepad for asymmetric gameplay and local multiplayer. You can back Hoverhere.

Man, that looks mad cool. Ever since the flop that was JSR HD, I’ve been yearning for that Rollerblading action I got when I played JSRF.

With that being said, not too happy that the only black dude on the lineup looks like a generic musclebound thug.

British_Otaku

Flop that was JSR HD? What is wrong with the digital HD release that SEGA have of JSR?

Rentekabond

Nothing wrong with the release itself, it’s just that since I played JSRF first on the xbox, playing JSR HD was a major disappointment as a game. It wasn’t good.

British_Otaku

… I see. I assumed you meant that as I got a really good impression from the PS3 demo. It was my first time playing any of the games, though I know Future is the definitive title (perhaps an updated remake or something) and heard of the series for a while.

JSRF and Psychonauts are both high on my list for when I finally get an Xbox (360 if it is supported, One if it is digitally released at any point).

Tracing back from really good sequels can be tough.

TempestTwin

JSRF can be played on xbox 360.

GVmanX

Yeah. I found it tough playing the original after I first played future.

Hey man, Combo had pizazz. It takes skill to skate on the power lines of a thirty-story building while holding a boombox on one shoulder. And there was always Garam if you wanted to be a more-lithe black dude.

GVmanX

Looking at the character art on their website, it seems he’s more of a red-skinned dino-man.

Cephrien

Duuude. The only thing that could make this better is Hideki Naganuma doing the soundtrack. lol

Asura

Music was rather blagh, and then I read that the JSR composer may do a soundtrack. Holy ****.

And thank you for the third person over-the-shoulder view, I wish every game with FP also had that as an option.

If I had any money whatsoever I would throw it.

Guest

I’m not going to fund it, but if ever gets to Wii U I’ll buy it day one.

Surgeon of Death

I reminds me of air gear. I WANT TO HOLD IT IN MY HARDDRIVE!

Serge

I get their reasons, but the Wii U goal is extremly high.
At least make a PS3/Xbox360 version to achieve that goal, i don’t think Wii U owners (myself include) are interested in give more than twice the original goal just to play the game.

CozyAndWarm

I agree. Wii U is my indie system of choice, I’m not gonna fund the game with such a huge barrier to entry. Will buy day 1 when it DOES release on the system though

chroma816

This is like JSR 2.0

Doctor Nebula

Immediately kick started when it began, a jet set radio like game is hard to come by.

Thank you! I knew I saw a game like this before but I couldn’t remember the name.

Earthjolly

Holy its like a Jet Set Radio Spritual Succesor

ecoutercavalier

Back it, you jerks.

I know you’re not supposed to because it’s Kickstarter, but still. Just do it.

Namuro

Oh man, just imagine playing this with the Oculus Rift + Omni!

NimbusStev

Oh man, I would puke.

Edit: Whoa it actually is designed for the Occulus! “Particularly adapted for the Oculus Rift, the game offers an exceptional immersion as well as totally new breathtaking sensations.”

Namuro

Luckily, I don’t have motion sickness (my big brother does, he can’t even play FPS games in general), and I really want to give this game a try with the Oculus Rift. I can’t wait until they release the consumer version.

But that Omni, though… Even if I can afford it (I think it should be really pricey), I have nowhere to put it in my place. LOL

NimbusStev

I got to try the Occulus at a few conventions. I hate to say it because it’s such a cool device… but I just couldn’t do it. Standing still and looking around was fine, but once I started strafing I got really dizzy and couldn’t handle more than a few minutes of it.

Hopefully that would all be fixed if I had my own consumer edition that I could calibrate to my eyes.

awkwardkorean

YES. JET SET RADIO FUTURE WAS MY FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME.

Tienron

ps vita!!! the touch effects would be awesome!

British_Otaku

That would be pretty awesome, but your best hope is probably for SEGA to bring JSR/F to the Vita instead, I don’t think this game looks that demanding but in their comments on the Kickstarter page, they implied the Wii U may be getting a different version of sorts.